Pole planing machine



5d). 18, 1941. J. D. TAYLQR ETAL 2,232,416

POLE PLANING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1941- J. D. TAYLOR ET'AL ,232,416

POLE PLANING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1941. J, TAYLOR Em 2,232,416

I POLE PLANING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 My Z7. Tayion ZZ/aace 51 lanes.

Feb. 18, 19 41. J. TAYLOR ETAL I 2,232,416

POLE FLANING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jam Z. fayiorz 32 Zl/czacz 70122):

F -18,1941- J.'D;TAYLO Em 2 232 416 POLE PLANING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1938 5' Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 18, 1941' PATENT OFFICE POLE PLANING MACHINE.

James D. Taylor and Wallace E. Jones, Spartanburg, S Spartanburg, S. Carolina 0;, assignors to Taylor-Colquitt 00., 0., a corporation of South Application May 6, 1938, Serial No. 206,470

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for operating on lumber and refers particularly to a machine for effecting a cutting or planning operation on poles or logs.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine designed to plane off a predetermined portion of a pole to form a flattened section capable of receiving cross arms or the like.

A'further object is to provide a machine having an open frame through which a pole can be fed and which is adapted to receive and hold a pole supporting truck aginst further forward movement While the pole is being operated on by the machine.

Another object is the provision of a pole planing machine adapted to receive a pole, plane off a predetermined length of the pole, and then permit the pole to be withdrawn from the same side of the machine from which it was fed.

A further object is to provide a cutting or planing element suspended from the frame of the machine and capable of movement into and out of operative cutting position. Means are also provided to adjust the cutter to accommodate poles of difierent diameters.

Another object is the provision of means associated with the cutter adjustment to permit upward movement of the cutter element during the planing operation, in the event of an extreme upward thrust, thereby preventing damage to the cutter.

A further object is toprovide a pair of log supporting trucks for feeding a pole to the machine and then withdrawing it after the machine has completed. the planing operation.

A still further object is the provision of a truck adapted to support the front of a pole and to be moved into theframe by the pole. This truck is provided with means for preventing movement of the pole relative to the truck until the truck is positioned within the machine under the cutter element. At this point the pole retaining means will be rendered automatically inoperative to permit the pole to move forwardly on the truck' underneath the cutter element.

Another object is to provide a rear truck adapted to support the rear end of a pole and lock it against both rotary and longitudinal movement on the truck.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention will now be more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine with the pole supporting trucks in operative position to feed a pole under the cutter element.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine showing the truck supporting a pole in position to be operated on.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pole after it has been operated on by the machine.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the machine on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged front view partly in section of the cutter element and the means for moving it into and out of operative position in the machine.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the cutter element showing the latter in inoperative position.

Figure 8 is a view simliar to Figure 7 showing the cutter element in operative position.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section through the front pole supporting truck.

Figure 10 is a section through the truck taken along line ill-l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical section through the rear pole supporting truck, and

Figure 12 is a section taken on line 12-42 of Figure 11.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 .of the drawings,

the numeral Ii) designates generally the pole cutting or planing machine forming the subject matter of the present invention. This machine comprises a frame structure of substantially open formation, in the top portion of whichis mounted a cutter or planing element H. A pair of front and rearlog supporting trucks l2 and I3 are movable on tracks l4 and are adapted to support a pole I 5 in position to be moved under the planing element H, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Means are provided (to be later described in detail) for clamping or looking the log I5 to the rear truck l3 to prevent rotary or longitudinal movement of the log relative to the rear truck. The front truck I2 is also provided with means for engaging the front end of the pole and preventing forward movement thereof relative to the front truck as the pole is moved into position beneath the planing element l I. However, before the pole actually comes into contact with the cutter element, means are provided to automatically release the pole engaging element and permit the pole to be moved forwardly on the front truck under the cutter element while the front truck is confined within the frame of the machine. The pole is advanced under the cutter element by moving the rear truck forwardly and this movement will arms 22.

be transmitted by the pole to the front truck until the latter is held against further movement by the frame of the machine. Thereafter, the rear truck is moved forwardly until the desired cutting or planing operation has been accomplished, whereupon the cutter element is raised to its upper inoperative position and the pole withdrawn from the machine. The feeding of the pole into the machine and the subsequent withdrawal thereof may be performed in any suitable manner, that is, this may be a manual operation or means may be employed for automatically feeding and withdrawing the pole from the machine. Means are provided to adjust the cutter element to accommodate poles of different diameters and to make different depths of cut. The machine is particularly adapted for planing or flattening one section of a log or pole to accommodate cross arms or the like (see Figure 3), but is useful in many other planing operations.

Referring to Figures 4 to 7, the cutter or planing element I I, together with its adjusting mechanism, will now be described in detail. This element comprises a cylindrical cutter head or blade holder I6 in which are mounted a plurality of cutters or blades IT. The holder I6 is fixed to a shaft I 8 rotatably mounted in bearings carried by bearing housings I8 mounted in the side plates I9 of a casing 20. This casing substantially encloses the cutter element but is open on its lower side, as clearly shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8. The casing 20 is pivotally connected to a pair of spaced supporting plates 2| by means of two sets of spaced arms 22. Each arm has one end thereof pivotally connected to one of the plates 2| and one end pivotally secured to the casing 20 and is mounted in parallel relation to its companion arm. Furthermore, each arm is mounted in alignment with the corresponding arm of the other set, whereby the casing and blade cutters may be raised and. lowered into an operative position without changing the relative position of the casing with respect to the blades. That is, the casing will always remain in the correct position to receive a pole regardless of the movement of the casing on the Thus, the cutting element will always be in the correct position for receiving and operating on a pole regardless of the position to which the cutter has been adjusted.

The supporting plates 2| are suitably secured to a pair of horizontal beams 23 mounted between upright I-beams 24 in the top portion of the machine. The vertical I-beams 24 cooperate with horizontal beams 25 to form an open supporting frame which, as described above, permits the front pole supporting truck to be moved into the frame and also allows a pole to pass into and through the frame during the planing operation.

Referring again to Figures 5 and 6, it will be observed that while one end of the-shaft I8 is journalled in one of the housings I8, the other end of the shaft passes through its respective housing and side plate I9 and has a pulley 26 secured to its extreme end. This pulley is operatively connected to a motor pulley 21 by suitable belting 28. Pulley 21 is mounted on a shaft 28' of an electric motor 29 suspended from horizontal plates 36 suitably supported in the frame structure of the machine. Operation of the motor 29 will rotate the blade holder I6 at the desired speed. It will be observed that the arms 22 are formed of overlapping sections 3| and 32 adjustably secured together by fastening elements 33 passing through slots in the sections 3| and 32. This arrangement permits any slack in the pulley belts 28 to be taken up so that the motor will drive the holder I6 at the desired speed.

It is necessary that means be provided to quickly move the cutter element I I into and out of operative cutting position and also to adjust the cutter head to accommodate poles of different diameters. The means for accomplishing this comprises (see Figures 6 to 8) a rod 34 having one end thereof secured to a cross rod 35 which is pivotally mounted between ears 3G projecting upwardly from the casing 20. Rod 34 is threaded throughout a substantial portion of its length and passes through threaded openings in a sleeve 31. The upper end of this sleeve is fixed to a cross arm 38 having operating handles 39 secured to opposite ends to permit rotation of the sleeve 31 on the rod 34 and thus adjust the rod and cutter element vertically to take care of poles of various sizes.

The arm 38 normally rests upon the top of a collar 40, which collar also encloses the sleeve 31 and permits sliding movement of the sleeve Within the collar. The collar 4|] is pivotally connected to and supported between spaced plates 4| by means of threaded bolts 42 passing through aligned openings in these elements. Figures '7 and 8) is preferably of triangular shape and is connected to the other plate by a cross bar 43. The plates 4| and cross bar 43 constitute the crank portion of a crank shaft 44 which is suitably journalled in bearings 45 mounted on the top of the frame structure of the machine. An operating lever 46 is connected to one end of the crank shaft 44 and is adapted to rotate the crank shaft to raise the cutter element I I from its operative position (see Figure 8) to its inoperative position (see Figure 7).

It will be observed that when the cutter element is in its operative position, the collar 40 is supported by the plates 4| in a position forwardly of the cross bar 43 and the axis of the crank shaft 44. Furthermore, the cross bar 43 is in vertical alignment with the axis of the crank shaft. The plates 4| in this position are supported upon the bifurcated plate 41 and this in conjunction with the arms 22 adequately support the cutter in position to receive and operate upon the poles as they are fed to the machine. However, the cutter head It and its casing 2|] are capable of upward movement by reason of the slidable engagement of the sleeve 31 and collar 4|). Thus, if an unusual upward thrust is exerted upon the cutter element by the pole, the cutter element will be raised and will thus be protected from injury by any undue force exerted from below.

When the pole has been operated on to the desired extent, the cutter element my be easily and quickly raised to its inoperative position by moving the lever 46 rearwardly. This operates the crank shaft 44 and moves the plates 4| from the position shown in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 7. This will have the effect of raising the rod 34 and moving the upper portion thereof to a point in rear of the axis of the crank shaft or past dead center. Furthermore, this movement of the plates will also carry the cross rod 43 to a point in rear of and below the axis of the crank shaft. This rod constitutes: means for limiting the rearward movement of the collar 40. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 7, the cutter element is not only moved to its inoperative position but by reason of the association of the crank shaft elements and the collar 40, the cutter element will be locked and retained in its inoperative position until the lever 43 is again actuated Each plate 4| (see to rotate the crank shaft and lower the cutter element to its operative position.

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, a bar 48 is adjustably mounted on and extends across the front of the casing I9 and is adapted to directly contact and rest upon a pole as it is fed into the machine. This bar may be of any suitable construction and by loosening the fastening elements 49, it may be adjusted vertically with respect to the casing and thereby adjust the blades I! for different depths of cut, as desired. The casing I9 is also provided with a relatively fiat elongated extension 50 which surrounds an opening in the casing. This extension 50 forms a discharge spout for permitting escape of chips which are carried into the casing by the rapidly rotating blades I1. At a point below the extension 55, the casing supports an inclined guide plate 5| which is adapted to engage the end of a pole as it is fed into the machine and to slightly raise the casing and cutter element so that the latter is in correct cutting position as it engages the end of the pole. It will be observed that the lower end of the cross bar -18 is normally positioned below the lowest point of the guide plate 5| so that during the actual planing or cutting operation, the bar 48 will be in contact with the top of the pole instead of the guide plate 5!.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 5, it will be observed that a horizontal cross beam 52 extends across and is secured to the lower portions of the forward uprights 24 of the frame of the machine. This cross beam is directly in the path of the forward truck I2 and is adapted to engage the truck and hold it within the frame after the forward end of the pole to be operated on, has passed under the cutter element ll. Adjustably secured to the top of the cross beam 52 is a bar 53 which extends rearwardly within the frame for a purpose to be presently described. This plate is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 5 which permit adjustment of the bar on the beam. A suitable fastening element 55 is utilized to secure the bar 53 in operative position.

Referring to Figures 2, 4, 9 and 10, the forward truck I2 will now be described in detail. This truck comprises a pair of longitudinally extending frame members 56 in which are journailed and housed the truck wheels 51. A pair of cross beams 58 connect the frame members 56 and support a longitudinally extending I-beam 59. On top of the I-beam and centrally thereof is mounted a substantially Y-shaped roller support 60 which carries the stub shafts 6| upon which rollers 62 are freely rotatable. It will be observed that the rollers are inclined inwardly and downwardly and cooperate to form a pole support and guide for initially supporting the front end of a pole and then guiding the re mainder of the pole in proper relation to the cutter element H as the pole is fed into the machine. Upon the front end of the I-beam 55 is mounted a sleeve 63 which receives and guides a vertically slidable plunger 64. The lower end of this plunger is connected by linkage 65 to a cross shaft 65 which extends between and is journalled in plates 6'! secured to the inner faces of the frame members 56. A pair of levers (i8 and 59 are rigidly connected to opposite ends of the shaft 66 and a stop element 10 is carried by and projects inwardly from one of the frame members 56 to engage the lever 68 and limit the forward movement ofthe levers. It will be observed (see Figure 4) that the lever 69 is in alignment with the bar 53 so that ultimately the lever will contact the rear end of the bar and be'moved rearwardly by the bar.

When the levers 68 and 69 are in their forward position, the plunger 64 will be raised to its highest position, with the extreme upper end of the plunger located above the level of the inner ends of the rollers 62. The plunger is centrally positioned with respect to the rollers and is adapted to contact the front end of a pole and prevent forward movement thereof relative to the truck when the plunger is in its raised position (see Figure 2). As the pole and truck I2 are moved forwardly, the front end of the pole will remain in contact with the plunger until the lever 69 engages the rear end of the bar 53. When this occurs, further forward movement of truck |2 will effect a rearward movement of the lever 69 and this will rotate the shaft 65 and move the plunger downwardly in its sleeve 63 whereby the upper extremity of the plunger will be clear of the pole. Thereafter, the pole will be free to slide forwardly on the rollers 52 and since the truck 12 will engage the cross beam 52 immediately after the plunger 64 is lowered, the truck willbe confined in the machine and adequately support the pole as it is fed under the cutter element through the frame.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, l1 and 12, the rear truck l3 will now be described in detail. This truck, similar to truck I2, is provided with spaced longitudinally extending frame members H in which are journalled Wheels 12. These members are connected by cross beams 13 and a cross frame M extends between and is mounted on top of the frame members H. A pair of spaced pole supporting wheels on rollers 15 are loosely mounted on shafts 15 which are supported in the cross frame M and project forwardly of the cross frame 14 and loosely sup-port arms 16 and Ti respectively. A flexible chain 18 has one end thereof secured to the arm 16 adjacent its inner end, while the free end of the chain is adapted to be detachably connected to the arm Ti (see Figure 12) when a log is to be clamped to the truck I3. The outer extremity of the arm. i5 is provided with a recess 19 which receives one end of a coil spring 88, the other end of the spring being secured to one of the frame members it.

It will be observed that the arm H is mounted on its shaft intermediate the ends of the arm and is provided with a stop pin 8! positioned between the inner end of the arm and the axis of the shaft 15. Furthermore, a hook or latch 52 is pivoted to the arm on the other side of the shaft from the pin 8l and in close proximity to the shaft. Assuming now that a pole has been placed on the trucks I 2 and t3, the chain 18 is wrapped around the rear end of the pole (see Figures 2 and 12) and the latch 82 is connected to one of the end links of the chain. When the slack has been taken in the chain but before any pressure has been exerted on either of the arms I6 and Tl, they will assume their. full line positions illustrated in Figure 12. Thereafter the arm 71 is rotated to its dotted line position which. will. move the arm Iii against the tension of the spring, to its dotted line position. As the arm 71 is moved from its full line to its dotted line position, the chain i8 will be tightened about the pole so that it will be retained against longitudinal movement with respect to truck I3. When the free end of the arm ll passes the axis of the shaft it, the arm, latch 82 and. end of the chain will be past dead center and this will have the effect of locking the arm against outward of counterclockwise movement. In fact' after the free end of the arm 11 has moved past the vertical axis of the shaft, it will be urged inwardly until the pin 8| abuts the chain. Thereafter the arm will be locked in this position until it is desired to release the chain from the pole.

. In addition to clamping the pole on the truck by means of the chain 18, a further locking means is employed which cooperates with the chain to lock the pole on truck I3 against both longitudinal and rotary movement with respect to the truck. This means comprises a drift pin 83 slidably mounted in a sleeve 84 secured to the cross frame M. The drift pin is provided with a sharp ened point 85 and its lower end is connected by linkage 86 to a cross shaft 81 journalled in the frame members H. A pair of levers 88 are connected to the ends of the shaft 81 exteriorly of the frame members H and are adapted to rotate the shaft 81 and thereby move the drift pin 83 vertically in its sleeve 8 After the chain 18 has been tightened about the pole and the arm 11 locked in operative position, one or both of the levers 88 is moved downwardly with sufficient force to cause the point 85 of the drift pin to: penetrate the pole (see Figures 11 and 12). This will effect an upward thrust of the drift pin against the pole and chain it so that the drift pin cooperates with the chain to adequately clamp or look the pole on the truck 13.

With one end of the pole clamped to the truck 13 as above described and its front end supported on the truck l2, it is ready for movement into the frame of the planingmachine. Any desired type of power is then applied to either the rear end of the pole or the truck I3, which also causes forward movement of the truck 2. The

front end of the pole and truck l2 will thus be moved into the frame where continued move ment will effect operation of the lever 69, thus lowering the plunger 64 and permitting the pole to pass into engagement with the cutter element. The rear truck [3 will be moved forwardly until it comes into contact with truck l2 or until a predetermined length of the pole has been planed or operated on. When the desired out has been taken, an operator will actuate the lever 45, raising the cutter element ll into its inoperative position, whereby the pole is, free to be withdrawn from the machine. As stated above, both the feeding and withdrawal operations may be manual and, if desired, a cable or similar element (not shown) may connect the trucks l2 and I3, whereby withdrawal of truck l3 will remove truck l2 from the open frame of the machine. However, any mechanical means (not shown) may be employed to automatically feed the pole I5 and trucks I2 and I 3 into the machine and withdraw the same after the desired planing or cutting action has been performed.

It is to be understood that while the machine is particularly adapted for planing or providing flattened surfaces on poles, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the present invention is capable of performing many different operations on poles or other lumber and is not limited to the specific functions shown and described. It is to be further understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings, and that the phraseolcgy employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

We claim:

1. A pole supporting truck adapted to feed a pole into the 'frame of a pole planing machine, a roller guide adapted to directly support and guide a pole, a movable plunger mounted on the truck in advance of and in alignment with the guide and adapted to contact the end of a pole and prevent forward movement of the pole relative to the truck, and plunger operating means carried by the truck and operatively connected to said plunger to move the same out of the path of the pole, said last mentioned means being adapted to be actuated by contact with the frame to release the plunger from the pole to permit the latter to move on the roller guide through the frame of the machine.

2. In adevice of the character described, an open frame adapted to receive and house a pole supporting truck, pole planing means mounted in the upper portion of. the frame and adapted to operate on a pole as it is moved through the frame, a pole supporting truck, a truck engaging element carried by the frame in the path of the truck to hold the latter in operative position below the pole planing means, and means carried by said truck and adapted to be positioned in the frame below the pole planing means to guide and center a pole under the planing means as it is fed through the frame, said truck engaging element being at a lower level than said last mentioned means and out of the path of the pole.

3. In a device of the class described, an open v frame adapted to receive and house a pole supporting truck, pole planing means mounted in the upper portion of the frame and adapted to operate on a pole as it is moved through the frame, a pole supporting truck, a truck engaging element carried by the frame in the path of the truck to hold the latter in operative position below the pole planing means, while permitting movement of the pole through the frame, means carried by said truck and adapted to be positioned in the frame below the pole planing means to guide and center a pole under the planing means as it is fed through the frame, means carried by the truck in advance of the centering means for preventing forward longitudinal movement of a pole relative to the truck, and means carried by the frame and engageable with said last mentioned means to render the same inoperative and thereby permit movement of a pole through the frame past the planing means.

4. In a device of the character described, an open frame adapted to receive and house a pole supporting truck while a pole is being fed on the truck through the frame for planing, said frame including spaced side members for receiving and housing the truck during the pole planing operation, means mounted on the frame between the side members and in the path of the truck to prevent further forward movement of the truck and to correctly position the truck in pole planing position, and means mounted on said frame in advance of said last mentioned means and adapted to actuate a pole releasing elements of the truck before the truck contacts said first mentioned means.

5. In a device of the class described, an open frame adapted to receive and house a pole supporting truck, pole planing means mounted in the upper portion of the frame and adapted to operate on a pole as it is moved through the frame, a pole supporting truck, a truck engaging element carried by the frame in the path of the truck to hold truck andadapted to be positioned in the frame directly below the pole planing means when the truck is in contact with the truck engaging element of the frame, whereby to guide and center a pole under the planing means as it is fed through the frame.

6. In combination, an open frame adapted to receive and: house a pole supporting truck while a pole is being fed on the truck through the frame, a pole supporting truck adapted to carry a pole into the frame under a planing element, truck engaging means mounted on the frame in the path of the truck and adapted to prevent further forward movement of the truck in the frame, pole engaging means mounted on the truck and adapted to contact an end of a pole and prevent forward movement of the pole on the truck, and means carried by said truck and operatively connected to said pole engaging means to move the latter into and out of contact with the end of a pole.

7. A pole supporting truck adapted to feed a pole into the frame of a pole planing machine,

means-carried by the truck for supporting and centering a pole as it is fed through the pole planing machine, a member movably mounted on the truck in advance of and in alignment with the pole supporting and centering means and adapted to contact the end of the pole and prevent forward movement of the pole relative to the truck, and member operating means mounted on the truck and operatively connected to the member to move the latter into and out of pole engaging position.

JAMES D. TAYLOR. WALLACE E. JONES. 

